Cream-milk can washing apparatus



ug. i7; i937, F W COFFlNG 2,090,572

CREAM MILK CAN WASHING APPARATUS Filed April 16, 1936 INVENTOR. Ffa-0mm W (aff/N6.

ATTORNEYS UNITED STA'i:

PATENT OFFICE CREAM-MLK CAN WASHING APPARATUS Frederick W. Cofing, Danville, Ill.

Application April 16, 1936, Serial No. 74,636

l Claims.

This invention relates to a washing and sterilizing device, particularly applicable :for creamery and dairy use.

One object of the invention is to provide a device which has all the advantages of prior art devices and which is more economical to construct and which has certain detachable parts, whereby the same may be more readily cleaned.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the aforesaid character with a measuring control, whereby the amount of water supplied to a flash boiler for the formation of steam is of constant volume.

One feature of the invention consists in the simplified form of the combination can support and drain.

Another feature of the invention consists in the simplified detachable mounting thereof upon the machine frame.

A third feature of the invention is directed to the economical use of the heat, as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter.

A fourth feature of the invention consists in the measuring valve and its operative connection g to the ash boiler as well as its manual control.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawing and the following description and claims:

In the drawing, Fig. l is a front elevational 30 View of a cream washer and sterlizer embodying the invention, parts being broken away to show other parts in detail.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof taken in the plane of the boiler supply control 35 valve, the compartment cover and heating device being shown in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the detachable sterilizer support and drain, and its support upon the frame of the machine.

In the drawing, Il) indicates the rectangular frame of angle iron and Il indicates four angle iron legs suitably secured thereto. Said legs below the angle iron frame-work Il) are suitably connected together as by the angle irons I2 4 and la.

Mounted in the frame-work is a semicylindrical trough structure Ill which has soldered therein or otherwise suitably secured thereto, a semi-circular partition I5 intermediate the ends r 00 I6 and Il, forming a can washing compartment I3, and the clean hot water compartment I9.

suitably surrounding the two compartments and depending therefrom, as shown clearly in 55 Figs. 1 and 2, are the plate or shield portions 2li,

and these terminate approximately in the plane of the bracing members I2 and I3.

Suitably supported by the brace members I2, as upon the transverse members 2|, is a flash boiler 22 having a steam discharge outlet connected to a discharge pipe 23y in one end. The upper side of the :dash boiler is spaced from the lower surface of the compartment I9, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but the two communicate as indicated at 24. Suchcommunication is of rigid character and is suitably packed or gasketed to prevent leakage from the boiler and leakage from compartment I9.

The conduit 25 has a threaded connection with the valve body 26 and the lower flange of the valve cooperates with the. packing structure to secure the entire arrangement in leakproof relation. v

The valve bodysee Fig. 2-is chambered as at 2l and a frusto conical valve member 28 is mounted in said chamber and has a portion 29 projecting therefrom which is suitably connected by a universal joint, or the like, 30 to an actuating rod 3l which has an angular extension 32 and a return bend formation 33. The valve member 28 includes a chamber 34 and includes `a port 35 communicating therewith and which is adapted to alternately register with the passage 3l in the Valve body 26, which is in free communication with the compartment I9, and to register with the passage 38 in free communication with the upper portion of conduit 25 that is in free communication with the boiler 22.

The numeral 39 indicates generally a standard form of heating device which is positioned directly beneath the ash boiler 22 and the heat from the former heats the lower surface of the latter and all the other surfaces, and then passes upwardly along the bottom and sides of the two cylindrical compartments, being retained between said bottom and sides and the shields y20, before mentioned. Thus, after the heat is utilized for boiler heating purposes, the heat is utilized to heat the water in the compartment I9 which is the clear water supply, and the water in the compartment I8, which is the supply for can washing.

When the handle 32-33 is turned approximately 180 from the position shown in Fig. 2, then the water which previously has flowed into the valve chamber 34, is discharged into the ilash boiler and the remaining water in compartment I9 is cut off from flowing into the boiler and the steam cannot discharge to compartment I9. The

valve chamber 34 when positioned as shown in 55 Fig. 2, thus will always be full as long as there. is water to the level of the intake of the valve in the compartment I9. Ihus, only the measured amount 'of water, tofwit; that yreceived by the valve chamber 34, will beV discharged tothe flash boiler for the generation of steam.

Compartment I9 may beclosed by a hinged lid structure 40. Compartment VI8 is` provided withanoutlet 4I terminatingV ina valve 42 by 'l0 which said compartment I8v may be drained. Compartment I9 is provided with an outlet 43 and the conduit terminates in aV valve 45 by Whichthe Compartment I9 may be drained.

The boiler, as stated, discharges generated l'stea'm by way of conduit 23 which is connected to a T fitting 46. one outlet thereof being closed by plug 47, the latter constituting a drain. The

other outlet is connected by the angular line 4 8 to a riser 49 terminating in a nozzle or tip 5I) of any preferred or desired design.

A ringV 5I is suitably supported by the downwardly inclined'straps or `brace members 52,

riveted oryotherwise secured as at 53-see Fig. l A3-.1to the legs I I and riveted or otherwise secured to the ring member 5I Yas at 54. Another pair of brace members 55 is also secured to Ythering Yas at 54 and alsosecured to therring as at 56, the other end being suitably secured to the angle iron framework as at 51. A tubular spac- 39 ing VVmember 58 is suitably secured to the ring as at 59` and to the angle iron frame member I0 as at 60. 'I'his maybe ofa bolt and nut type, if desired, the bolt extending through the tubular member 58. Thus, the ring is rigid with the machine frame, and at one side thereof.

A frusto conical funnel or drain member 6I terminatesin a beaded edge 62 in which is `mounted a reenforcing member or wire 63-'-see Fig. 1.1 VThe lower coaxial edge includes 'the 40 orifice 614V which-is coaxial with the riser 49. `Extending through the funnel or drain isha pair of Vbars orfrods 65,Y the samefbeing posin tionedin a plane tangent `to the lowest surface ofthe bead of the funnel andbeing soldered j or otherwise suitably secured to the funnel Vas at 66. The ring is Vnotched as at 61 at opposite sides-to nest saidrods, where the same project `outwardly beyond'the exterior lower surface of Vthe funnel at opposite sides thereof. The rods at one side and the side which is to be positioned adjacentrthe machine frame are extended as at 68 and the same areadapted to lie immediately beneath Ythe outwardly Ydirected .flange of the Yframe. member I0.V Y Y Y The spacing of the two rods 65 is such that Va cream can mouth will bear on both rods and be supported thereby for supporting the cream can in inverted position.

The purpose of the cover 40 is to permit the transfer of the cream'can from its inverted position Vshown to the left in` Fig. 1 to its side position shown tothe right Vin Fig. 1 and then f back to the first Vposition without drippings falling into clean Water compartment I9. The operation of the device is as follows:

Clean water is supplied to compartments I8 and I9 in any suitable manner. The heating device 39 is ignited and when the boiler has attained the proper heat, the water in the two compartments will also'be heated. Then a cream can is inverted andV Yis positioned on the rods 65 with-the nozzle inside the can. The valve 29 is then operatedto supply a measured amount of Vwater to therilashlwboiler which is immediately generated'into steam and discharges through the nozzle 50 into the cream can and this steam is sprayed into the can and then the condensed steam together with what cream and butter fat f adheres to the can sides and bottom Vruns down and drains from the `can into the conical drain Y 6I and thence collects in 'the can 10, shown dotted in Fig. 1, and positioned in registration with the opening 64-of said drain.

Following this operation, the can is removed from the bars 65, placed in compartment I8 Vand rotated therein to Wash the exteriorv and lthe interior of the can. The can isrremoved from the compartment I8 and may be positioned toone side until the creanr from all of the cans has been removed and the cans have been cleansed,

of if desired, the can immediately after wash-V` ing may be returned to its inverted position upon the bars 65, as shown in the upper left hand portion of Fig. 1, and then valve 29 is again operated to supply another injection of steam to the can and this injection of steam sterilizesv4 the can.

' It will be obvious from theforegoing descrip-.Y Y tion that all of the cream may ber-readily re- Y .moved from the same and the cans may be expeditiously Washed and sterilized. The valve structure is such thatit is adapted to supply hot, clean water andA in a measured lamount-to the flash boiler to generate steam.V 1

Heretofore in devices of this* generalcharacter, it has been the custom to supply cold water to theash boilerkwhich materially reduces the efliciency of the steam generation.

With the present invention, the supply of water for steam generation isof the gravity feed type and the supply of water is a measured amount,

`only that which may betrapped *by` the valve and transferred by the valve until itis discharged to the boiler. that the two compartments may be readily cleaned since they have semi-cylindrically shaped bottoms. Y f v Furthermore, this invention has-aV very imei:

portantradvantage and that isthat'the conicaldrain is readily detachable from its support vfor cleaning and steriliz'ing after the dayswork has been done and for a similar operation previous to starting the days Work. All that is required is to elevate by tilting upwardly andrtoward the machine proper, the funnel arrangement so that the projecting portions of the bars 65 are re- This invention hasy the advantage moved from .the several notches inthe supportV ring and then tilting movement is continued further until the portions 68'of the bars, if Vprojected upwardly, would clear theouter edge of g the flange of the frame member I0 and then the funnel is directly elevated for complete removal and subsequent washing. j

The projecting portions 68 of the bars 65, it will be obvious, by nesting beneath the flange vof the. angleV iro-n'IIl, serve to preventthe escapeV or movement of the 'funnel whenthe bars are nested in the notches of the support ring. It;

will also be apparent-see Fig. l-that the beadedV edge 62 of the funnel or drain has substantially full peripheral contact with the top edge of theV support ringV so that the funnel is` relatively rigidly positioned when properly seated.

The angular arrangement 48 of the steam dis# charge connection to the rlser and nozzle insures clearance for the cream can 'I0 that receives the fat and cream which drain from, the cans. After this operation, another can may be positioned beneath the opening 64 in the funnel and this can catches all the sterllizing condensate. The' diameter of the opening 64 is suiiiciently large to permit the tilting of the conical drain or funnel for its subsequent separation from its support without interference from the riser i9.

While the invention has been set forth in great detail in the foregoing description and has been illustrated in similar detail, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. Various modications of the present disclosure will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art and such modifications are all considered to be within the broad scope of this invention, reference being had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:-

l. In a can washer and sterilizer, the combination with a can washing device including a frame structure and a steam supply riser oiset therefrom and supported thereby, of draining and can supporting means juxtapositioned relative thereto and supported by the frame structure including a funnel, the riser extending upwardly therethrough, a support ring carried by the frame structure and peripherally and detachably supporting said funnel, and means through which the riser projects and positioned within the iunnel for supporting a can in inverted relation, said last mentioned can support means projecting through the funnel and operatively engaging the frame structure for the purpose described.

2. In a can washer and sterilizer, the combination with a can washing device including a frame structure and a steam supply riser oiset therefrom and supported thereby, of draining and can supporting means juxtapositioned relative thereto and supported by the frame structure including a funnel, the riser extending upwardly therethrough, a support ring carried by the frame structure and peripherally and detachably supporting said funnel, and means through which the riser projects and positioned within the funnel for supporting a can in inverted relation, said ring nestably receiving said funnel and the latter having a beaded edge contacting the upper surface of the ring when the funnel is nested therein.

3. In a can washer and sterilizer, the combination with a can washing device including a frame structure and a steam supply riser offset therefrom and supported thereby, of draining and can supporting means juxtapositioned relative thereto and supported by the frame structure including a funnel, the riser extending upwardly therethrough, a support ring carried by the frame structure and peripherally and detachably supporting said funnel, means through which the riser projects and positioned within the funnel for supporting a can in inverted relation, said ring nestably receiving said funnel, and spaced means projecting from the lower exterior side of said funnel and operatively seating upon the rmg.

4. In a can washer and sterilizer, the combination with a can washing device including a frame structure and a steam supply riser offset therefrom and supported thereby, of draining and can supporting means juxtapositioned relative thereto and supported by the frame structure including a funnel, the riser extending upwardly therethrough, a support ring carried by the frame structure and peripherally and detachably supporting said funnel, means through which the riser projects and positioned within the funnel for supporting a can in inverted relation, said ring nestably receiving said funnel, and spaced means projecting from the lower exterior side of said funnel and operatively seating upon the ring, said ring being notched to seat said spaced means.

5. In a can washer and sterilizer, the combination with a can washing device including a frame structure and a steam supply riser offset therefrom and supported thereby, of draining and can supporting means juxtapositioned relative thereto and supported by the frame structure including a funnel, the riser extending upwardly therethrough, a support ring carried by the frame structure and peripherally and detachably supporting said funnel, means through which the riser projects and positioned within the funnel for supporting a can in inverted relation, said ring nestably receiving said funnel, and spaced means projecting from the lower exterior side of said funnel and operatively seating upon the ring, said ring being notched to seat said spaced means, said ring having a beaded edge peripherally contacting the Lipper surface of said ring when the funnel is nested therein.

6. In a can washer and sterilizer, the combination with a can washing device including a frame structure and a steam supply riser offset therefrom and supported thereby, or draining and can supporting means juxtapositioned relative thereto and supported by the frame structure including a funnel, the riser extending upwardly therethrough, a support ring carried by the frame structure and peripherally and detachably supporting said funnel, a pair of spaced bars extending across the funnel and betv een which the riser projects, said bars projecting through and beyond the funnel, said ring including registering notches for seating said bar projecting ends.

7. In a can washer and sterilizer, the combination with a can washing device including a frame structure and a steam supply riser offset therefrom and supported thereby, of draining and can supporting means juxtapositioned relative thereto and supported by the frame structure including a funnel, the riser extending upwardly therethrough, a support ring carried by the frame structure and peripheraily and detachably supporting said funnel, a pair of spaced bars extending across the funnel and between which the riser projects, said bars projecting through and beyond the funnel, said ring including registering notches for seating said bar projecting ends, the rim of the funnel being beaded and the beading resting upon the upper surface of the ring.

8. In a can Washer and sterilizer, the combination with a can washing device including a frame structure and a steam supply riser offset therefrom and supported thereby, of draining and can supporting means juxtapositioned relative thereto and supported by the frame structure including a funnel, the riser extending upwardly therethrough, a support ring carried by the frame structure and peripherally and detachably supporting said funnel, a pair of spaced bars extending across the funnel and between which the riser projects, said bars projecting through and beyond the funnel, said ring including registering notches for seating said bar projecting ends, the bars being directed longitudinally toward the frame structure and termihating, when seated in the notches, immediately adjacent an overhanging edge thereof for the purpose described.

9. In a can washer and sterilizer, the combination with a can washing device including a frame structure and a steam supply riser offset therefrom and supportedY thereby, of draining and can supporting means juxtapositioned relative thereto and supported by the frame structure including a funnel, the riser extending upwardly therethrough, a support ring carried by the frame structure and peripherally and detachably supporting Ysaid funnel, Ya pair of spaced bars extending across the funnel -and between which the riser projects, said bars projecting through and beyond the funnel, said ring including registering notches for seating said bar projecting ends, the bars being directed longitudinally toward the frame structure and 'terminatilfny when seated in the notches, immediately adjacent an overhanging edge thereof for thepurpose described, the rim of the funnel being beaded and the beading resting upon the upper surface of the ring.

10. In a can washer and sterilizer, the combination with a can Washing device includingY a Vframe structure and a steam supply riser offset therefrom and supported thereby, of draining Iand can supporting means Vjuxtapositioned. relative thereto and supported by the Vframe structure including a funnel, the riser extending upwardly therethrough, Va support ring carried by the frame structure and peripherally and detachably supportingrsaid funnel, a pair of spaced bars extending across the funnel and between which the riser projects, said bars projecting through and beyond the funnel, said ring including registering'notches for Vseating said bar projecting ends, the bars being directed longitudinally toward the frame structure and :terminating, when seated in the notches, immediately adjacent an overhanging edge thereof for the purpose described, the funnel outlet y or mouth being of appreciable area to permit tilting of the funnel without riser interference for de- Y t tachment of the funnel, said riser immediately below the plane of the mouth having a lateral portion for drain can clearance `and directed to-f ward the frame structure. Y

FREDRICK W. COFFING. 

